Wheel



ct. 28, 1930. l w. E, RO'BlNsON 1,779,917'4 WHEEL Filed May 28, 1928 Patented Oct. y28,1`

UNITED Srta-T1515I WILLIAME. ROBINSON, oF PHILA-linnrnrn PENNSYLYIAL i l WnEE'/gxfflr j.

i Application 'filed nay 2s,y

A `yet reliable construction and which will `be claimed.

possessed of smooth running properties.

Other objects ofthe invention will appear from the following description at the end ofV which the invention will be claimed. j v Generally stated, the yinvention comprises hub and tread elements, non-elastic suspension membersarranged transversely of the plane of and interposed in spaced relation'be- ,tweenk said elements, andspring means for keeping said members in tensio The invention also comprises the improvements to be presently described and finally In the following description reference will be made to the accompanying drawing formf ing part hereof and in which Figure 1 is a side view of ka wheel embodying features of the invention. j

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view drawn to an enlarged scale and takenY on the line` 3-.3 of

Fig. l.

Figs. 4, 5 and Gare views generally similar to Fig. k3 but illustrating modications, and

Fig. 7 is a similar view illustrating another modification.

In the drawings, Figs. 1 to 3, 1 is a hub element and 2 is a tread element confronting oppositefaces of the hub element. The hub element happens to be illustrated as a disk extending to the center but of course the'extension to the center may consist of spokes which construction is too well understood to illustration orvfurther description.-

There are non-elastic suspension members 3 arranged transversely of the plane and interposed in spaced relation between the confronting portions of said elements. As shown there are provided ball and socketconnections 4 and 5 at the ends of the suspension members 3 where tlieyare connected with the confrontingportions of thehub and tread elerequirev 12 element. the other fortiori of 'whicn's indif--V cated as of rubber orlikemater' i Ilvvidentll shocks imparted tbf'the wheel are Y labsorbed by the spring means `6, and the ball and socket joints facilitate the relative movements of the parts. yIf'we assume that Fig. 3 f

' shows the normal relation ofthe parts with the spring means 6 under some tension,.it is evident that the suspension' members 3 may` turn about the joints 4 and 5 in anydirection, but underthe restraint of the springY means 6, which, as has been said, absorb shocks and ars. J The construction and Inode of operation of the modification shown in Fig. 4 are as above not resilient yand is provided'with housings 8 in which are arranged compression-springs 9fitted with heads y10 movable in the housings Sand-bearing upon the balls of the joints 11 by which ythesuspension members are connected withthe tread portion.

The construction and mode of operation of the modification shown in Fig. 5 are as above described except that springs 12 are vinterposed between the hub member or disk 13 and rings 14 in turn engaged bythe ball joints 15 by which the suspension members 3 are connected at one of their ends. The other ends of the suspensionmembers 3 are connected by ball and socket joints 16 with a flange on the tread portion. f

The foregoing descriptionapplies to Fig. 6 with the exception that compressible resilient tubes 17 are substituted for the springs In Fig. 7, the spring means in the form of spring barsv 18, are attached to and radiateV from the hub element y19, and the non-elastic suspension members 19, are interposed ybetween the'springs 18,and the tread element 20.

described except that the tread portion-7 is f It will be obvious to those skilled in the arty -r to which the invention relates that modifications may be made in details of construction and arrangement and matters of mere form without departing from the spirit of the invention which is not limited to such matters or otherwise than the kprior art and the appended claim may require.

I claim: t

A wheel'comprising a hub element, a circu-v lar treadelement of semicircular radial cross section surrounding the periphery of said hub element so as to confront the opposite faes of y said hub e1ementnon-elastc suspension members align ed in pairs on opposite sides of the hub element, ball and socket joints for connectin one end of each suspension member with t e hub element, ball and socket'joints for oonnectingthe other endskof the suspension elements with the portions of the tread element which onfront the hub element,ra resilient tire element on the outer yside of said tread element, and` said treadelement form,

ing a spring for` keeping said suspension members in tension. f

WILLIAM E. ROBINSON. 

